Portable cleaning apparatus



March 18, 1969 H. A. POPPITZ PORTABLE CLEANING APPARATUS Sheet Filed Feb. 23, 1967 INVENTOR. Hmm I.) A. Pop/ 1 T2 Mazda/wan? flTTa u/Em FIG. 5

March 18, 1969 H. A. POPPITZ PORTABLE CLEANING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 23, 1967 Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HAROLD A POPP/TZ 3,433,417 PORTABLE CLEANING APPARATUS Harold A. Poppitz, Chaska, Minn., assignor to Chaska Chemical Company, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Feb. 23, 1967, Ser. No. 617,996

US. Cl. 239-304 10 Claims Int. Cl. 1305b 7/26, 7/16 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable liquid cleaning apparatus comprising two pairs of tanks mounted on a truck carrying an air operated motor and a reciprocating piston pump. One pair of tanks used to store an acid cleaning liquid solution has a first tank storing a concentrate acid solution and a second tank storing a diluted acid solution connected to the inlet of the pump. The other pair of tanks stores alkaline cleaning liquid solutions with one tank storing a concentrated alkaline liquid and the other tank storing a diluted alkaline solution connected to the inlet of the pump. Separate liquid filling and proportioning units are used to mix the concentrate solutions and to maintain the levels of the liquids in the second or pump reservoir tanks so that a supply of cleaning liquid is always available to the pump.

A valving system connected to the inlet of the pump is used to selectively connect the pump to a source of alkaline cleaning liquid, acid cleaning liquid, or water from a source of supply. On operation of the motor, the pump discharges one or more of the cleaning liquids at high pressures through hoses connected to manually operated nozzles. A foaming unit operated with air pressure and liquid discharged by the pump is used to impart a foaming agent to the cleaning fluid whereby the cleaning fluid is discharged as a foam which clings to surfaces being cleaned.

This invention relates to a self-contained portable liquid cleaning apparatus for selectively discharging cleaning liquids under high pressures onto surfaces to be cleaned. The apparatus includes a pair of liquid storing tanks mounted on a movable truck. A concentrated cleaning liquid is stored in the first tank and a mixed cleaning liquid is stored in the second tank. A liquid filling and proportioning unit is used to mix the concentrated liquid with a second liquid, as water, and discharges the mixed liquids as a cleaning liquid into the second tank. The filling unit also automatically maintains a supply of cleaning liquid in the second tank. A motor operated pump supported on the truck adjacent the tanks withdraws the mixed cleaning liquid from the second tank and discharges this liquid under pressure to a hose and nozzle for discharge to a cleaning location.

To add versatility to the cleaning apparatus, a foaming unit is mounted on the truck and connected to the liquid system. The foaming unit operates with a source of air under pressure and the pressure of the cleaning fluid discharged by the pump to mix the cleaning fluid with air and a foaming agent. The mixed cleaning fluid, air and foaming agent is discharged to a separate hose and nozzle for delivery to a cleaning surface as a heavy foam which clings to the cleaning surface.

In the drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the portable cleaning apparatus of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view partly in section of the cleaning apparatus of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged end elevational view of the cleaning apparatus of FIGURE 1;

States Patent FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 the liquid cleaning apparatus of this invention indicated generally at 10 for discharging cleaning liquids under high pressure to a cleaning location, as a wall, floors, containers, machinery and the like. The apparatus has a movable truck 11 carrying a first pair of liquid storing tanks 12 and 13 and a second pair of liquid storing tanks 14 and 16. An upright frame 17 secured to the truck adjacent the tanks carries a pump 18 and a motor 19 drivably connected to the pump.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, a valve assembly indicated generally at 20 couples the inlet of pump 18 to the bottom of tanks 12 and 14. On operation of pump 18 by motor 19, liquid is withdrawn from either one or both of the tanks 12 and 14 and discharged from the pump to either nozzle 21 or nozzle 22 or a foaming nozzle 23 according to the requirements of the cleaning operation. Valve assembly 20 is operable to connect the inlet of pump 18 to either pump reservoir tanks 12 or 14 or to a direct supply of a liquid, as water. Tanks 12 and 14 may contain acid or alkaline cleaning liquids as required by the cleaning operation. Preferably one tank stores an acid cleaning liquid while the other tank stores an alkaline cleaning liquid.

Returning to FIGURES 1 and 2, truck 11 has a flat rectangular platform 24 mounted on a pair of rear wheels 26 and a pair of front caster wheels 27 whereby the entire cleaning apparatus is supported for movement on surface 28. This enables the cleaning apparatus to be readily moved from one cleaning location to another cleaning location without disassembling the apparatus. Truck 11 may be provided with side and end rails and with coupling or towing structure (not shown) as needed.

The first and second pairs of tanks 12, 13 and 14., 16 are substantially identical in size and shape, Each tank is separately secured to platform 24 and may be separately removed for cleaning, repair or replacement as required. One of the tanks of each pair identified as a first tank is used to store a concentrated cleaning liquid while the other tank or second tank is a pump reservoir storing a diluted or mixed cleaning liquid. The following description is limited to tanks 14 and 16. As shown in FIGURE 2, tank 14 has a chamber 29 storing mixed or diluted cleaning liquid 31. Tank 16 has a chamber 32 storing a concentrated cleaning liquid 33. To reduce harmful effects, as corrosion, of the concentrated liquid on the tank, the inside of tank 16 may be coated with an epoxy coating. Tank 16 has a top or lid 34 pivotally attached to the top of tank 16 by hinge 36 Lid 34 has an upright handle 37 whereby tank 16 can be opened for refilling and cleaning purposes. Both tanks 14 and 16 are provided with drains (not shown).

A liquid fill and proportioning unit indicated generally at 38 is used to withdraw concentrated liquid from tank 13 to mix this liquid with a second liquid, as water, and to discharge the mixed liquids into tank 12. An identical liquid fill and proportioning unit 39 is used to discharge these fluids into tank 14. Units 38 and 39 are connected to a common liquid supply pipe 41 which has an inlet coupling 42 used to connect the pipe to a supply of liquid under pressure. This supply of liquid is usually water.

Units 38 and 39 are identical in structure and function and are used with the separate pairs of tanks to maintain the levels of the liquids in the respective pump reservoir tanks 12 and 14. These units also mix the concentrate liquid with the water to evenly dilute the water with concentrate liquid.

The following description is limited to the unit 39. As shown in FIGURE 2, unit 39 has a manual shut-off valve 43 connected to liquid supply pipe 41 with an elbow and pipe 44. Valve 43 is used to manually turn off the automatic fill and proportioning unit to facilitate a change in the metering screw 57, a change in chemical cleaning liquid or drain the tanks for cleaning. An on-oif valve 46 coupled to the outlet side of valve 43 is operated by a magnetic operator 47. A Z-shaped bracket 48 supports valve 46 and operator 47 on tank 14. Operator 47 has a movable member and spring (not shown) connected to valve 46. A flexible link 51, as a chain, connects the movable member of operator 47 to a weighted float ball 52 located in chamber 29 whereby the position of the ball moves up and down with the level of the liquid in chamber 29 and actuates operator 47. When the level of the liquid in chamber 29 falls below a predetermined level, the weight of the ball actuates operator 47 which in turn opens valve 46. With valve 46 open, liquid flows through a siphon breaker 53 into a pipe leading to a venturi suction pump coupling or eductor 54. The liquid being under pressure from the source of supply flows through eductor 54 into a downwardly directed pipe 62 which discharges the liquid into tank 14. A liquid diffuser 65 is attached to the lower end of pipe 62.

Eductor 54, as shown in FIGURE 5, has a lateral tubular stub 56 carrying a removable metering screw or tip 57. A small longitudinal passage or hole 58 in tip 57 opens into the main passage of eductor 54. A wide range of accurate water to concentrate liquid ratios are available by changing the size of passage 58. The larger the hole, the greater the controlled concentration. In this adjustment of the mixing ratio, screw 57 is replaced with a screw having the desired size hole.

A hose 59 having an upper end telescoped over stub 56 extends downwardly into tank 16. The lower end of hose '59 is connected to a foot valve 61 operative to prevent reverse flow of liquid in hose 59. Hose 59 being telescoped over stub 56 makes screw 58 unaccessible to the cleaning operator so that the screw can not be readily adjusted. In addition, hose 59 protects screw 58 against accidental damage.

As shown in FIGURE 3, motor 19 mounted on top of a horizontal plate portion 91 of frame 17 has a downwardly projected movable piston rod 63 connected to a movable portion 64 of pump 18. Motor 19 may be any type of motor, as electric, hydraulic, air operated or the like, capable of operating pump 18. Pump 18 may be any pump capable of delivering liquid under high pressure. For example, the motor may be an air motor having a reciprocating piston double acting valve structure and the pump may be a double acting piston pump. The motor and pump may be a single unit as the Bulldog air-operated pump, model 206, manufactured by the Gray Company, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn. The following description is directed to an air-operated motor and a reciprocating pump. Air under pressure is delivered through an air supply hose 66 coupled to a shut-off valve 67 which directs the air to an air pressure regulator 68 having a gauge 69. Regulator 68 is adjustable to regulate the speed of motor 19. An air hose 71 connected to regulator 68 carries the air to inlet of motor 19. The pump 18 operated by motor 19 has a delivery which is continuous with equal pressure and volume on both strokes.

Valve assembly connected to inlet pipe 70 of pump 18 operates to selectively restrict or mix the liquids which are drawn into the pump. Valve assembly 20 has three manual on-olf valves 71, 72 and 73 connected to a common coupling 74 attached to the inlet pipe 70. Valve 71 is connected to the bottom of tank 12 with a pipe and elbow structure 78 which leads to tank exit 79. A similiar pipe and elbow structure 81 connects valve 73 with tank exit 82 of tank 14.

As shown in FIGURE 2, strainer 83 located in the bottom of tank 14 is connected to the inlet of tank exit structure 82. A similar strainer (not shown) is employed with the tank inlet 79 of tank 12. Valve 72 is connected by a pipe 84 to inlet coupling 42 for the supply of Water. Valves 71, 72 and 73 can be independently turned on and off to connect the pump with either reservoir tank 12 or 14 or with the supply of water.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, a discharge coupling 86 connected to the outlet of pump 18 is used to connect a pair of hoses 87 and 88 with the pump. The opposite or outer ends of hoses 87 and 88 are coupled to nozzles 21 and 22 respectively. With motor 19 operating and pump 18 fluidly connected to one of the tanks or supply of water either or both nozzles 21 and 22 can be used to direct cleaning fluid onto an object or place to be cleaned.

Referring to FIGURE 3, a foaming unit indicated generally at 89 is mounted on platform 91 forming a flat top of frame 17. Foaming unit 89 is connected to the outlet discharge coupling 86 of pump 18 by piping 92 and an on-ofi valve 93. Foaming unit 89 comprises a first venturi coupling or eductor 94 connected to the upright end of piping 92 so that the liquid discharged by the pump passes through the venturi passage of the coupling. Projected from the side of the coupling 94 is a connector or tubular stub 96 receiving a hose 97 extended downwardly into a container or reservoir 98 for the foaming agent. Connector 96 has a passage leading into the venturi passage and may be provided with adjustable structure, as a needle, to vary the size of the passage whereby the amount of foaming agent which is mixed with the liquid flowing through the coupling may be regulated.

Secured to the upper or discharge end of coupling 94 is a second air venturi coupling or eductor 99 positioned in a transverse direction with respect to the flow of liquid through the first venturi coupling 94. A pressure regulator 101 and on-off valve 102 connect coupling 99 to an air hose 103. The inlet end of hose 103- is connected to the air line for motor 19 downstream of shut-off valve 67. An elongated hose 104 receives the air mixed with liquid and foaming agent from the air venturi coupling 99 and carries this mixture to foaming nozzle 23. By adjusting the valve assembly 20, the foaming agent may be mixed with an alkaline cleaning liquid, an acid cleaning liquid, water or a combination of these liquids.

In use, the cleaning apparatus 10 is self-contained portable liquid discharging machine capable of discharging a plurality of cleaning fluids under high pressure. Tanks 13 and 16 are provided with a supply of concentrated cleaning liquids and the container 98 is provided with an ap propriate foaming agent. The apparatus is then moved to the location to be cleaned without transporting large amounts of liquids.

In the cleaning operation, inlet coupling 42 is connected to a supply of water whereby the liquid fill and proportioning units 38 and 39 function to discharge cleaning solutions into reservoir tanks 12 and 14. With the tanks 12 and 14 empty, the magnetic operators 47 are actuated by the weighted float balls to open valves 46 allowing liquid to flow through venturi suction pumps 54. The flowing liquids create suction forces which draw the concentrate cleaning liquids through tubings 59 and mixes them with the water. This mixture of liquids is discharged into the tanks through the pipes 62. When the level of the liquids in the tanks 12 and 14 are in their filled positions, operator 47 turns valves 46 off providing the pump reservoirs with uniformly mixed cleaning fluids. Units 38 and 39 operate automatically to maintain liquids in the tanks 12 and 14.

Valve assembly 20 is adjusted to provide the desired cleaning liquid, either alkaline, acid or water. On operation of motor 19, pump 18 functions to withdraw liquid from one of tanks 12- or 14 and discharge the liquid to discharge coupling 86 into hoses 87 and 88. Nozzles 21 and 22 may be selectively or simultaneously operated to dispense the cleaning fluid onto a cleaning location.

In certain cleaning circumstances, it may be desirable to use a foamed cleaning solution. In this event, the air is supplied to foaming unit 89 and liquid discharged from pump 18 is supplied to unit 89. As the liquid passes through eductor 94, it mixes with a foaming agent. This liquid is mixed with air in eductor 99 which carries the air and liquid through holes 104 for discharge through separate foam nozzle 23.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An apparatus for discharging cleaning liquid comprising: first tank means for storing a concentrate liquid, second tank means for storing a mixture of liquids, transfer means for receiving a supply of a second liquid, Withdrawing the concentrate liquid from the first tank means, continuously mixing the concentrate liquid with the second liquid between the first tank means and the second tank means and discharging the mixed liquids into the second tank means, said transfer means having automatic control means operable to maintain a supply of the mixed liquids in the second tank means, a pump for withdrawing mixed liquids from the second tank means, and nozzle and hose means connected to the pump for receiving the mixed liquid under pressure and discharging the mixed liquid to a cleaning location.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including a platform and Wheel means for movably supporting the platform, said first tank means, second tank means and pump supported on said platform.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 including a truck carrying the first tank, the second tank and pump, a motor supported on the truck for operating said pump.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the motor is an air operated motor mounted on a frame secured to the truck.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said transfer means includes an eductor having a passageway for the second liquid, a removable metering tip with a hole open to the passageway and a hose coupling the tip with the first tank means whereby the second liquid flowing through the passageway draws concentrate liquid into the second liquid.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 including a foaming unit connected to the pump for receiving liquid from the pump under pressure, a container for a supply of foaming agent, means for mixing a quantity of foaming agent to liquid flowing through the unit, means delivering air under pressure to the foaming unit to mix the air with the liquid and foaming agent, and nozzle and hose means coupled to the foaming unit for carrying the mixed air, liquid and foaming agent to a cleaning location.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first tank means comprise a pair of first tanks storing separate concentrate liquids, said second tank means comprises a pair of second tanks for storing liquids, said transfer means comprise a first fill and proportioning unit and a second fill and proportioning unit for withdrawing concentrate liquids separately from each of the first tanks, mixing the concentrate liquids with water between the first tanks and second tanks, and discharging the mixed liquids separately into the second tanks, and a valve assembly for selectively connecting the pump to each of the second tanks.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said valve assembly has an on-otf valve to connect the pump to a source of water.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 including a foaming unit connected to the pump for receiving liquid from the pump under pressure, a container for a supply of foaming agent, means for mixing a quantity of foaming agent to liquid flowing through the unit, means delivering air under pressure to the foaming unit to mix the air with the liquid and foaming agent, and nozzle and hose means coupled to the foaming unit for carrying the mixed air, liquid and foaming agent to a cleaning location.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for introducing a foaming agent and air under pressure into liquid discharged by the pump.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,988,286 6/1961 Snyder et a1. 239-127 3,049,302 8/ 1962 Simmons 239 3,226,030 12/1965 Rossi 239 2,128,263 8/ 1938 Ofeldt 239304 2,487,348 11/1949 Malsbary et al 239304 2,640,724 6/ 1953 Sanders et a1 239304 2,919,070 12/1959 Arant 239304 2,987,259 6/1961 Lindquist 239304 FOREIGN PATENTS 425,497 9/ 1965 Switzerland.

142,033 9/ 1929 Switzerland.

821,564 10/ 1959 Great Britain.

EVERETT W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 239130, 142, 318

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,433,417 March 18, 1969 Harold A. Poppitz t is certified that error appears in the above identified ers Patent are hereby corrected as patent and that said Lett shown below:

Column 6, line 41 insert:

2,039,275 4/1936 McGrael 239-318 Signed and sealed this 31st day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. 

